Corona pastor Lonny Remmers, right, listening during his October 2014 sentencing for inflicting corporal injury on a minor, faces more prison time after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in Ohio.

Remmers, 58, could be imprisoned for as long as 41 months, according to the plea agreement filed in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Ohio and federal sentencing guidelines. However, the sentence could be reduced if he cooperates with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and accepts responsibility for his actions.

Remmers’ sentence could then be as little as four months, depending on how much prison time a judge assigns based on Remmers’ criminal history.

The government agreed to dismiss two counts of wire fraud as part of the agreement.

Some of Wittenmyer’s counts involve crimes unrelated to Remmers’ in which Wittenmyer was accused of using money solicited from investors for personal use and obtained advances on commissions on bond sales to which he was not entitled.

The plea deals are not binding on the judge.

In 2009, Remmers and Wittenmyer created the New Dimension Fund to locate underperforming assets such as mortgages, gold and diamond mines, works of art and precious gems. A financial instrument called an insurance wrap could be arranged for the assets so money could be borrowed against them.

Wittenmyer persuaded Ohio developer Larry Dillin to lend New Dimension Fund $2 million as seed money to buy those assets. But, the plea agreement states, that fund never attempted to acquire additional assets. Instead, Remmers received $439,000, spending it on, among other things, a vehicle, home furnishings and a mortgage.

Wittenmyer took about $660,000 for personal use, according to the plea agreement.

Remmers agreed in the plea deal to pay unspecified restitution. Remmers and his wife, Lisa, declared bankruptcy in 2012.

Brian Rokos writes about public safety issues such as policing, criminal justice, scams, how law affects public safety, firefighting tactics and wildland fire danger. He has also covered the cities of San Bernardino, Corona, Norco, Lake Elsinore, Perris, Canyon Lake and Hemet. Before that he supervised reporters and worked as a copy editor. For some reason, he enjoys movies where the Earth is threatened with extinction.